Folding case



Patented June 18, 1929.

U N-ITQED S TA TES )PATENT ,.oFriicE.

ALPHA/ H. METCALF, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNORTOSAART BROTH-ERS COM'PANY, A CORPORATION OF RHODEISAND.

7 FOLDING GASE.

r)implication filed August 23, 1928. SorialffNm 3015550.

MyV invention relates `to a foldable case or container i'lor automobileregistration certificates, drivers licenses,'and` other flexibledocuments.

The essential objects of ymy invention` are compactncss; convenience oftransportation; protectionfof the contents against creasing and'fronithe elements; 'facility oit opening and closing thev case; ease etinsertion. and removal of contents; security against accidental escapeof thev lat-ter; and simplicity and inexpensiveness ofconstruction.

To the above ends primarily my invention consists Ain such parts and -insuch cembinations oil parts as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part oi this specificationFigure 1 is affrontr perspective-viewV of' a case embodying myinvention,

'Figure 2, a perspective-view of the same inail open posit-ion, showingin broken lines a document retained therein,

Figure 3, a section Yof the case' taken `on line 3-8 olFigure 1,

F igure4 and 5, fragmentary sections oi" the case taken on line 4-4ofVFigure 1 showing the releasing pin-in two different radial positions,and

Figure 6, a section taken on `line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Lilie reference characters indicate like parts throughout theviews.

As herein shown my case comprises a rectangular front plate or section*10 of thin metalprovided with top and bottom lflanges l2, and .withinterspaced lateral hinge sleeves 13 and 14 integral respectivelyr withopposite edges and directedinwardly therefrom at right angles thereto.

A foldable plate or section 16, also of thin metal and of rectangularshape, and of din'iensions which permit it to lit within the yflanges12, has integral with its inner edge interspaced horizontal hingesleeves 18 alternating with the sleeves 14.

A rear plate or section 20 of rectangular outline and composed of thinmetal has top and bottom flanges 22. Formed upon its inner lateral edgeare forwardly directed interspaced hinge sleeves 24 alternating with thesleeves 13. Integral with its opposite lateral edge the plate 20 has va14 and 1-8 is a pintle r'od 82' provided upon y its upperextremity witha flat linger piece 534 provided with an opening 85. Near the top andbottoni of the rod are lateral pins or projections 37 projecting looselythrough hor-i'fxmtally disposed larcuate slots 38.

Integral with the lower edge of the plate 1G,fand with the lower flange22, are vertically disposed resilient lingers or clips 4() and 41respectively, having their respective lower portions 42 yand 48inclined. Centrally of the vlower flange 12 is a broad resilientvertically disposed and .inclined clip 44 with. spacedv projecting uppercn'd y portions 4G, and pressing against the plate.

In using my device, the parts being open,

`as shown in Figure 2, the document positioned as shown Aat 48 isdownwardly inserted between the ilangesf22,`10, vand 16, and the clips41, 44, and 40 where `it held by-spring pressure against 'the plates 20,10 and 16. The plate or wing 1G is then inwardly :folded againstthe'back of platey 10, and next the pla-te or wing 20 is forwardly foldedtliereover and vvmanually pressed suf'- ficiently to permit the curvedresilient flange 25 to snap overfand clasp portieri of the rounded sideol the case termed by the hinge sleeves`14'and 18. Eachportion 28 oftheZffla-nge overlaps a portion ci the adjacent s101388, and the casewith its contents are thus lir'mly held against unfolding, land thecontents protected.

In order to unclasp the parts the operator grasps the finger piece 34between his thumb and finger .and partially rotates the rod 32 Ibringingfthe pins 37 against the flange portions `28 as shown in Figure 4.4Continued pressure of the pins snaps the flange portions out ofengagement with the hinge sleeves, as shown in F igur@ 5. The case maynow be unfolded and the document will be disclosed uncreased and intact.

It is obvious that changes in details of construction within the spiritof my invention may be made. The description of the device has beengiven in detail merely for elearness of understanding, and no unduelimitation should be understood therefrom.

I clainul, In a folding case, a plate, a resilient clip carried by theplate, a second plate connected with one side of the first plate, aresilient clip carried by the second plate, a third plate hingedlyconnected with the other side of the first plate, and a clip carried bythe end of the third plate, said clips all being arranged on the sameside of the case when opened and arranged to cooperate withtheirrespective plates to hold a document in the case.

2. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one side of the plate,a second plate, lateral hinge sleeves upon the second plateinterengaging with the first sleeves, a hinge rod in the sleeves of bothplates, a third plate hingedly connected with the other side of thefirst plate, and a resilient lateral flange upon the third plate forembracing the sleeves of' the first plate.

3. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one sidevof the plate,a hinge rod in the sleeves, a second plate pivotally mounted upon therod, a third plate hingedly connected withthe other side of' the firstplate, marginal clips upon all the plates, and a resilient flange uponthe third plate for embracing the sleeves.

Ll. In a folding case, a plate, rearwardly directed flanges upon theends of the plate, hinge sleeves upon one side of the plate, a hinge rodin the sleeves, a second plate foldable within the flanges and pivotallyengaging the rod, a third plate hingedly connected with the side of thefirst plate opposite the sleeves, forwardly directed flanges upon theends of' the third plate, and a resilient lateral flange upon the thirdplate for engaging the sleeves, and a yresilient marginal clip supportedupon one end of the first plate.

5. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one side oftheplate, asecond plate,

Vlateral hinge sleeves upon the second plate interengaging the firstsleeves, a hinge rod in the sleeves of `both plates, hinge sleeves uponthe other side of the first plate, a third plate, lateral hinge sleevesupon the third plate engaging the second mentioned sleeves upon thefirst plate, a pintle in the interengagingsleeves of the first plate andthird plate, flanges upon theends of both the first plate and thirdplate, marginal clips carried by the plates, and a resilient lateralflange upon the third plate for embracing the first mentioned sleeves ofthe first plate.

6. In a folding case, a plate, flanges upon the ends of the plate, aresilient clip carried by the plate, rearwardly directed hinge sleevesupon one side of the plate, a second plate foldable between the flanges,aclip upon the second plate, horizontally disposed hinge sleeves uponthe second plate, a hinge rod in the sleeves of bot-h plates, a. thirdplate, flanges upon the ends of the third plate, a clip supported by thethird plate, rearwardly directed hinge sleeves upon the second side ofthe first plate, forwardly directed lateral sleeves upon the thirdplate, a pintle in the last mentioned sleeves and in the secondmentioned sleeves of the first plate, and a transversely curvedresilient lateral flange on the third plate for embracing the firstmentioned sleeves of the first plate, all of said clips arranged tocooperate with their respective plates to hold a document in the case.

` 7. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one side of theplate provided with horizontal arcuate slots, a second plate, lateralhinge sleeves upon the second plate, a hinge rod rotatably mounted inthe hinge sleeves of both plates, a finger piece upon the rod extendingbeyond the ends of the plates, projections upon the rod extendingloosely through the slots, a third plate hingedly connected with theother side of the first plate, and a resilient lateral flange upon thethird plate for embracing the first mentioned sleeves and partiallyoverlapping the slots in the path of the projections.

8. In a folding case, a plate, rearwardly directed flanges upon the saidplate, hinge Vsleeves upon one side of the plate provided withhorizontal arcuate slots, a second plate, an intermediate lateral hingesleeve upon the second plate, a hinge rod rotatablyV mounted in thesleeves of both plates, a finger piece upon the rod extending beyond theplates and provided with a hole, projections upon the rod extendingloosely through the slots, a third plate hingedly connected with theother side of the Erst plate, forwardly directed flanges upon the endsof the third plate, and a curved resilient lateral flange upon the thirdplate for engaging the first mentioned sleeves and partially overlappingthe slots in the path of the projections.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ALPHA H. METCALF.

